Clothes-washing machine



April 24, 1951 A KOST CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE 2 Shets-Sheet l Filed Feb. l2, 1947- I INVENTOR. /j/w/f? /f'osf QM/6W /77' TOF/VE Y April 24, 1951 A. KosT 2,549,824

CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1947 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 93 8l INVENTOR.

/WTORNEY Patented Apr. 24,. 1951 .CLOTHES-WASHING .MACHINE Alwr''Kost, .Portland',0reg.

. Application February 12,1947, .Serial `No.-'728,061

K f1 5 Claims. 1 .Thisinvention relates to a "clothes .washing machine 'oi a" type in. which. a movabletubl is subjeotedto a combinedwabbling. and. oscillating movement to provide. a highly V'eliicientz washing action.

"My present invention.` is, 'inisome respects, an improvement on` devicesdiscloseddn my prior patent-No. 2,246,689,.issued' June"24, '1941, on a Mechanical Movement.

.An object `of`.this .invention.is to provide a e .clothes washing .machine .of simple `construction '.'thatis highly 'ecientin operation. and that is easy on theclothesthatare.being washed.

Another .object is.to .provide a washing .machine l thatis free frommoving agitatorsand like parts that tendtoinjureandfwear'the clothes.

.Another object is. to.provide awashing machine of movabletub typethatis Well .balancedand .substantially vfree from.vibr'.ation when in operation.

, Other .objectsoi the invention willbeapparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with. the accompany-ing. drawings.

In. the, drawings: Figure 1 is a vieu/in vertical section,- with parts .L. inelevaton, of a. clothes=washing machine convVstructed in accordance. with, this invention.

Fig. 2 is a.- plan view.of,the.same with parts in .sectionetaken substantially-.on.broken line 2-2 'of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a detached sectiona1 view taken substantiallyon brokenline 3-. -3.o.f Fig. 2 and showing clutch shifting mechanism.

Fig. 4 .is a wiring..diagram.showing electrical connections andcontrolmeansfor amotor and 'electromagnetic devices .used in connection with .this machine.

Fig. 5. is. a fragmentary view .showing alterna- `.'.tive lcluteh control means fthat..canbeused in connectionwiththis invention.

'Fig'. 61s afragmentaryviewof.said alternative .iclutch Vcontrol means. lookingin the direction vof broken line G+S-.of Fig". 5.

. Eig. 7. is. -al fragmentary sectional view. showing .r alternative means forsimparting oscillation to a post that support atiib.

. "F.g. is. a' fragmentary sectionalview looking 1in the "direction of line IlTpf Fig.v '7.

vLike reerence numeralgdesign'ate like parts throughout the ,several views.

' This washing machine comprises a tub4 le having spherical sidewalls II, abottom wall. I2 and a removable. cover I 3. The top edge of the-tub 'I0 is provided .with a" x'ellysecured rubber. seal ring "I 4' having .an unwarjd1y`directedgroove for the reception .of ai down-,turned edge portion lI5 lof thecover I3, whereby aleaktight connection is provided forthecover. Means such .as acentrally positioned knob I6 is provided. on thecover I3 to facilitate handling .the same.

The bottom of.V the .tub Il 9.. is .provided kwithan axially positioned... inwardly. .projecting ldome I 'I that extendsabout half way from thebottomto portion 'of the domeishapediramed. :Shim means 2Lcan. be .provided-betweenthe flange I9 and the .bottom end of.thelframe.l8, if needed,

to. insure. a tight11'it .of.. thefdcuney lI'I ozverf the dome shaped frame I 8.

i The interior of. the .tub I IJ is: provided. Withfan annularbafe. ring .122 .01". V.shaped cross;` section Qlocated about-.mid way .between thetopfandfbot- .tom Aof the tub. Alsosaid vtub .Mis provided-at a plurality .of spaced .apart intervals with upright vvbaille members.`z2.-of V-shaped crosssection. The baille members .22. andsZZnaugment .the agitation and turbulence of: the `water in the tub and also .serve .asv reinforcing-- members to greatly strengthen the walls I-I `of the tub.

The Atub 4I (lis ymountedufor oscillating and swash l plate movement withinarcyflindrical housing' 23 that is supportedon legs-24. .The spherical walls II.4 of. .the tub arevdisposed infclose Vproximity ;to,4

but not-in. 'contact with.: a reinforcing 1 ring 25 Y that is provided on'the top edge portion "ofthe cylindrical.- housing l123. "I The.' working .clearance betweenrzthese'two lparts is fclose enough to 1 preclude Vallpossib'ility of persons gettinglngersor other. parts I`4of the 'body "caught betweenI said' two r i parts when` the machine is in-operation.

Arcuateframe members'f26 are providedbevtvveen'thev legs 24. `VTransverse frame. members 12'! rare connected with-the arcuate vframe .membersY 26 to form supporting means for the vdevices on which'the tub is movably mounted.

The tubsupportingv and mounting means comprises. a' dish shaped housing 28 carried bythe transverse frame 2l and .having a covermember V"29 secured thereto,.as by" flange and boltmeans "30." The cover member 29 .has amediallyldisposedupwarclly projecting .tubular .portion 3Iflof frustro-conical shape extending upwardly into the frame member i8 and dome l1. An inclined post or shaft 32 extends upwardly through the tubular member 3| and has its upper end portion secured to the dome shaped frame i3, preferably by threading the upper end portion of the post 32 into a hub 33 of the frame I8 and providing a key 34 to prevent relative rotary movement of these two parts.

The inclined post 32 has a ball 35 rigidly connected therewith near its upper end. The ball 35 is mounted for universal movement in selflubricating bearing means 38 that is carried by the upper end portion of the housing member 3|. A cap 31 holds the bearing means 36 in place. The ball 35 can be integral with the inclined shaft 32 and the weight of the tub is carried by this ball 35.

The lower end portion of the inclined post 32 is disposed Within an off center inclined bearing socket 38 in a worm wheel 39. The worm wheel 39 is rotatively mounted on an upright bearing pin 46. The pin 48 is supported in a hub 4| that extends downwardly from the housing member 28. Preferably inclined brace or truss members 42 extend between the hub 4| and some of the legs 24 to reinforce and strengthen the frame structure.

Obviously rotation of the worm wheel 39 will move the inclined post in a double conical path with the center of movement of said post coinciding with the center of the ball 35. This will impart a wabbling or swash plate movement to the tub HJ.

The inclined post 32 is also connected with means for imparting to said post an oscillatory movement simultaneously with the movement of said post in a conical path.

This post oscillating means comprises a forked bracket member 43 that ts over the shaft 32 and is connected therewith by a cross pin 44. The forked member 43 is rigidly secured to a bracket arm 45. The arm 45 is disposed substantially at right angles to the axis about which the inclined post 32 moves. Said arm 45 is supported in bearing members 46 in a tube 41. The tube 41 has two oppo-sitely projecting bearing members 43 and 49 that are positioned vertically and at right angles to the arm v45 and are mounted for oscillation in bushings 56. One of the bushings 56 is supported by the lower housing member 28 and the other bushing 58 is supported by a cap that is threaded into the housing cover 29. The cap 5| is locked to the cover 29 by a set screw 52. The cap 5| is used for the pur pose of facilitating application and removal of the housing cover 29 and allows the cover 29 to be positioned at right angles to the shaft 32 for purpose of assembly and disassembly.

The worm wheel 39 is driven by a worm 53 that meshes therewith. The worm 53 is carried on a shaft 54 which is journaled in bearings 55 in the housing 28. A packing 56 is provided in one of the bearings 55 to prevent leakage of oil. The shaft 54 extends outwardly through the bearing 55 that carries the packing 56 to the exterior of the housing and has two relatively telescopic clutch members 51 and 58 mounted thereon. The

-clutch member 51 is of the cone-friction type and is splined on the shaft 54 by key members 59. The other clutch member 58 receives the cone member 51 and is rotatively mounted on the shaft 54. The cone member 51 preferably has lining material 36 secured thereto. A bushing 6| s preferably provided between the clutch member 58 and the shaft 54. A spring 62 which thrusts against a collar 63 yieldingly urges the cone member 51 toward the other clutch member 58.

The clutch member 58 has a driving connection by means of a belt 64 with a pulley 65 on the shaft 66 of a motor 61. The motor 61 is preferably suspended from the horizontal frame members 26 and 21.

The clutch member 51 has a shoulder 68 that is engaged by a forked shifter bracket 69, by which said clutch member is moved against the pressure of the spring 62 into a disengaged position. The shifter bracket 69 is rigid with a sleeve 16 that is secured to a rod 1|. The rod 1| is guided for longitudinal movement in brackets 12 and 13 that are rigid with the frame 21. A spring 14 provided between the bracket 12 and sleeve 10 urges the shifter bracket 69 into disengaged position relative to the shoulder 68. A solenoid 15 having a movable plunger 16 is positioned adjacent to and in alignment with the rod 1| and is adapted to move the shifter bracket 69 against the pressure of the two springs 62 and 14 into a disengaged position. When the solenoid 15 is energized the plunger 16 will press against and move the rod 1|.

Preferably the motor 61 and solenoid 15 are wired as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4 so that the circuit to the solenoid 15 can be opened and closed whenever the motor 61 is operating but so that the circuit to the solenoid can not be closed when the motor circuit is open. This can be done as follows: by using a common connector 11 to connect one terminal of an electric plug 18 with one terminal of the solenoid 15 and one terminal of the motor 61; by using conductors 19 and 88 and switch 8| to connect the other terminal of the motor with the other terminal of the plug 18; and by connecting the other terminal of the solenoid 15 by a conductor 82 and switch 83 with the motor circuit conductor 19 between the motor 61 and the switch 3|. From the foregoing description it will be seen that the motor 61 can be started or stopped at will by closing or opening the switch 8| and that the solenoid can be energized or de-energized at will by closing or opening the switch 83 when the switch 8| is closed but will always be de-energized when the motor control switch 8| is open.

If desired the solenoid 15 can be dispensed with and manually operated means, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, can be used for moving the rod 1| to disengage the clutch. This manually operated means comprises a cam member 84 positioned adjacent the end of the rod 1| and secured to a shaft 85 that is mounted in bearing means 86. A lever 81 is connected with the shaft 85 as a means for oscillating the shaft. A spring 88 normally holds the cam 84 in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 6. Preferably a recess 89 is provided in the highest point of the cam 84 to receive the rounded end of the rod 1| when this part of the cam is in engagement with the rod. When the end of the rod 1| is seated in the recess 89 the clutch will be held in a disengaged position irrespective of the pull of the spring 88 until the lever 81 is manually operated to move the cam 84 into a released position relative to the rod 1| whereupon the spring 62 will move the clutch cone 51 into engagement with the clutch member 58.

The tub l!! has a water outlet 90 covered by a screen 9| and connected by a flexible conduit 92 with an outlet control'valve 93 by which the draining of water from the tub can be controlled.

Wringer means of conventional form can be provided and driven from a vertical shaft Se that is connected by worm drive means 95, stub shaft 96 and flexible coupling 91 with the motor shaft 66.

Figs. '7 and 8 show modified and simplified means for imparting oscillation to a tub supporting post that corresponds to the post 32 of Fig. 1. In this construction of Figs. '1 and 8 the gear housing comprises parts |0| and |02 of simplied construction. The post |00 has an enlarged portion |93 provided with an elongated opening |04 and a bracket member |05 which corresponds to the member 43, 45 of Fig. 1 is mounted for swinging movement on a vertical pivot |06 and extends through the opening |04 in the post |00. Preferably a sleeve |01 that is externally square in cross section is provided on the bracket |05. The bracket will oscillate the post |00 on its own axis as said post is moved in conical paths by the rotation of the gearwheel 39.

In the operation of this clothes washing machine water is placed in the tub to about the level of the baie member 22, the clothes to be washed are placed in the tub, the motor 61 is started and the clutch 51, 58 engaged. This will drive the gearwheel 39 and move the tub supporting post 32 in a double conical path so as to impart a wabbling or swash plate movement to the tub.

At the same time the bracket member 45, 43 will act as a lever arm to oscillate the post 32 on its own axis and this oscillation will be imparted to the tub I0. This combination of movements of the tub imparts to the Water and clothes a complex movement that is highly efcient and fast in washing and cleaning said clothes. At the same time this movement of the tub and the water and clothes therein is fairly well balanced and is not productive of objectionable vibration.

The vanes 22 and 22' are beneiicial in helping to impart movement to the water and the clothes. The spherical shape of the tub helps to prevent water from splashing up against the cover of the machine. The sealing of the cover by the ring I 4 prevents leakage of water. The vanes 22 and 22' also greatly reinforce and strengthen the walls of the tub. All bearings and bushings in the machine are of self lubricating type so that the machine will not require other lubrication. The tub I does not have any agitator or moving part and consequently no oscillating or rotating shaft extends into the tub.

Obviously changes in this invention can be made within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A Washing machine comprising an upright post supported for tilting and rotative movement about a center intermediate its length; a tub carried by the upper end portion of said post; and means for simultaneously oscillating said post on its axis and moving said post in conical paths about its center of movement.

2. A washing machine comprising an upright post supported for tilting and rotative movement about a center intermediate its length; a tub carried by the upper end portion of said post; means for moving said post in a double conical path about the center on which it is mounted and means for simultaneously oscillating said post on its own axis.

3. A washing machine comprising a tub; an indented portion in the bottom of said tub extendging Vfor a substantial distance into said tub; an

upright post extending into said indented portion and having its upper end portion rigidly connected with said tub for supporting said tub on said post; a universal bearing for said post positioned Within said indented portion and near the upper end portion of said post; means for moving said post in conical paths with said bearing as a center to thereby impart a swash plate movement to said tub and means for simultaneously oscillating said post on its own axis.

4. A washing machine comprising a tub; a rel-- atively large dome shaped indented portion in the bottom of said tub extending substantially to the center of said tub; an upright post extending into .said indented portion and having its upper end portion rigidly connected with said tub for supporting the same; a bearing support extending upwardly into said indented portion; a universal bearing for said post carried by said bearing support and positioned near the upper end portion of said post; means for moving said post in conical paths with said bearing as a center to thereby impart a swash plate movement to said tub and means for simultaneously oscillating said post on its own axis.

5. A washing machine comprising a frame; a gear housing supported by said frame; a bearing support extending upwardly from said gear housing; a spherical bearing carried .by the upper end portion of said support; a gearwheel in said housing; an eccentric socket in said gearwheel; a post mounted in said eccentric socket and extending upwardly through l'said :bearing support; a spherical member rigid with said post journaled in said spherical bearing; adome shaped frame member xedly secured to the upper end portion of said post and extending downwardly over said bearing support; a tub having in its bottom an axially disposed upwardly indented dome shaped portion that is fitted over and secured to said dome shaped frame member; means for rotating said gearwheel to move said post in conical paths: an elongated bracket arm having on one end a forked member connected with said post by pivot means transverse to said post, said elongated bracket arm being positioned substantially at right angles to said post; guide means supporting said elongated bracket arms for longitudinal movement; and pivot means for said guide meansy positioned transverse to said elongated bracket arm and parallel to the axis -about which said post is moved whereby said bracket arm will oscillate said post as said f post is moved in a conical path.

ALWIN KOST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,519,715 Altorfer Dec. 16, 1924 1,602,138 Wappat Oct. 5, 1926 1,766,213 Bock June 24, 1930 2,145,453 Miller Jan. 31, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 556,791 Germany Aug. 13, 1932 

